President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an evening address on 15 September that the Verkhovna Rada must support seven draft laws this week that are necessary to secure international funding. He linked the passage of these bills to the possibility of securing billions of dollars to cover the state budget deficit, warning that some of the decisions would be difficult and unpopular.
Briefly about the main points
- Parliament will consider most of the bills at first reading.
- The President urged people not to put party interests above the needs of the state.
- The amount of funding specifically linked to these seven draft laws has not been disclosed.
- The passing of laws does not guarantee that aid will be received automatically.
- If Ukraine fails to meet the conditions, it may lose some of its support.
The President urged that decisions should not be postponed
According to Zelensky, most of the documents have been included on the agenda for consideration at first reading. He described them as decisions of national importance and urged MPs not to allow their votes to be dictated by the interests of individual political groups.
The President stated that, without the necessary legislative changes, it would be more difficult for the state to fully meet its defence needs and maintain financial stability. He acknowledged that certain measures might provoke a negative reaction from both politicians and the public.
«The deficit must be made up. These are billions of dollars that positive votes could bring to Ukraine,» said Zelenskyy.
Voting is a condition for access to external support
The President did not specify how much funding is directly dependent on the current package. His statement refers to the possibility of securing billions of dollars from international partners, rather than a guaranteed sum that will be received immediately after the laws are passed.
Ukraine needs foreign aid to cover the deficit state budget. This makes it possible to prioritise defence when allocating our own resources. At the same time, the adoption of legislative measures is only one of the conditions: funding is contingent upon the fulfilment of commitments agreed with our partners and specific arrangements.
If the necessary decisions are not taken, Ukraine may lose access to part of the planned support. Earlier, on 1 September, Zelenskyy spoke of the possibility of securing over $4 billion, provided the necessary votes were secured in parliament; this sum was not linked to the seven current draft laws.
Parliament has already considered amendments relating to the Ukraine Plan
One of the support mechanisms is the Ukraine Facility programme, with a total budget of over 50 billion euros for the period 2024–2027. International programmes require Ukraine to implement reforms and fulfil its legislative obligations.
In early September Verkhovna Rada has already endorsed three legislative measures to implement specific provisions of Ukraine’s Plan. According to parliamentary reports, these concerned state aid, renewable energy and the fulfilment of special obligations in the public sector.
In 2026, the European Union also agreed to amendments to the Plan for Ukraine, which provide for additional funding under the Ukraine Facility. In order to receive these funds, Ukraine must not only hold the forthcoming votes but also fulfil the conditions agreed with its partners.
